Sutera plant named &#39;DANCOP102&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Sutera  cultivar named ‘DANCOP102’ is disclosed, characterized by early and abundant extra large white flowers, a semi-trailing elongated habit, very well branched plant habit with long, strong branches and strong vigor. The new variety is a  Sutera , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Sutera cordata

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DANCOP102’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Sutera cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Suteravarieties for ornamental commercial applications. The open pollinationresulting in this new variety was made during January of 2010.

The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referredto as Sutera cordata ‘cv. 09-1472’ The pollen parent is unknown as itwas an open pollination breeding program. The new variety was discoveredin July of 2010 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting fromthe 2010 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by vegetativecuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhouse in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel during August of 2010 and has shown that theunique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to typein more than 20 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DANCOP102’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DANCOP102’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DANCOP102’ as a new and distinct Suteracultivar:

1. Semi-trailing, elongated growth habit.2. Extra large white flowers.3. Very well branched with long, strong branches.4. Early, abundant flowering.5. Strong plant vigor.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCOP102’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, Sutera cordata ‘cv. 09-1472’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCOP102’ differin the following:

1. Semi-trailing, elongated growth habit. Seed parent has a trailing andelongated growth habit.2. White flowers. Seed parent has light pink flowers.3. Very branched with long, strong branches. Seed parent has moderatebranching.4. Early, abundant flowering. Seed parent has late, moderate quantityflowering.5. Strong vigor. Seed parent has medium vigor.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCOP102’ are comparable to the commercialvariety Sutera ‘DANCOP40’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,147. The two Suteravarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however,the new variety ‘DANCOP102’ differs in the following:

1. Comparison variety has compact, mounded growth habit whereascandidate variety has semi-trailing, elongated growth habit.2. Comparison variety has commercially recognized extra large whiteflowers, smaller than the even larger flowers of the new variety.3. Plants of the comparison variety has medium vigor, whereas candidatevariety has strong vigor.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCOP102’ are also comparable to theunpatented commercial variety Sutera ‘Scopia Great White improved’. Thetwo Sutera varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics;however, the new variety ‘DANCOP102’ differs in the following:

1. Comparison variety has medium, white flowers whereas candidatevariety has double extra large white flowers.2. Comparison variety is extremely well branched, with more branchesthan candidate variety.3. Comparison variety does not bloom as early as candidate variety.4. Flowering of comparison variety is not as abundant as candidatevariety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DANCOP102’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 13 cm pot. Ageof the plant photographed is approximately 3 months old from rootedcutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the flowers. The photographs were takenusing conventional techniques and although colors may appear differentfrom actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate aspossible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to the RoyalHorticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2001 except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DANCOP102’ plants grown in a greenhouseduring Winter to Spring in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growingtemperature ranged from 15° C. to 26° C. during the day and from 13° C.to 16° C. during the night. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Sutera cordata ‘DANCOP102’-   Propagation:    -   -   Typical propagation material.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to rooting.—7 to 10 days at approximately 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous roots.-   Plant:    -   -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 3 months old.        -   Pot size of plant described.—13 cm.        -   Height.—About 12 cm.        -   Plant spread.—About 60 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Medium.        -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Quantity of            Primary Lateral Branches: About 16 Length of Primary Lateral            Branches: About 50 cm. Form: Cylindrical Diameter: About            0.3 cm. Color: RHS Green 147 A Texture: Velvety Strength:            Good.        -   Internode length.—About 3 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite, petiolate Quantity:            Approximately 60 per branch. Average Length: 3.5 cm. Average            Width: 3 cm. Shape of blade: Ovate Apex: Obtuse Base:            Acuminate Texture of top surface: Velvety Pubescence:            Slightly pubescent all surfaces. Velvety Aspect: Flat,            angled about 90° to the branch Color: Young foliage upper            side: RHS Green 137 B Young foliage under side: RHS Green            137 C Mature foliage upper side: RHS Green 147 A Mature            foliage under side: RHS Green 137 A Venation: Type: Pinnate.            Venation color upper side: RHS Green 147 A Venation color            under side: RHS Green 137 C Petiole: Length: About 1 cm.            Diameter: About 0.3 cm. Color: RHS Green 147 A Texture:            Slightly velvety.-   Flower:    -   -   Natural flowering season.—All year round.        -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting.—About 45.        -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit.—Axillary, solitary            salverform single flowers.        -   Rate of flower opening.—3 to 5 days from bud to fully opened            flower.        -   Flower longevity on plant.—About 7 days.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent.        -   Bud.—Shape: Spatulate Length: About 1.7 cm Diameter: About            0.8 cm Color: RHS White 155 C.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 3.2 cm. Length: About 1.8 cm.            Corolla tube diameter: About 0.5 cm.        -   Corolla/petals.—Arrangement: Symmetric Lobe Length: About            1.3 cm. Lobe Width: About 1.2 cm. Quantity: 5 Texture:            Velvety Lobe Apex: Rounded Lobe shape: Rounded Margin:            Entire Aspect: About 90° to the tube.        -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: RHS White 155 C Lower            surface: RHS White 155 C Fully opened: Upper surface: RHS.            White 155 C Lower surface: RHS White 155 C Visible Corolla            tube color: RHS Yellow-Orange 21 A.        -   Calyx/sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 Shape: Linear Length:            About 0.9 cm Width: About 0.1 cm Apex: Acute Base: Fused.            Margin: Entire Texture: Slightly velvety Color: Upper            Surface: RHS Green 137 A Lower Surface: RHS Green 137 A.        -   Peduncle.—None.        -   Pedicel.—Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near RHS Green 137 A            Orientation: Slanted upward and outward Pubescence: Slightly            pubescent.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 4 Filament length: Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Cylindrical Length: Approximately 0.1 cm.            Color: RHS Yellow 13 B Pollen: Color: RHS Yellow-Orange 21 B            Quantity: Sparse.        -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: About 1.4 cm. Style: Length: About            1 cm. Color: RHS Yellow- Green 144 D Stigma: Shape: Undulate            Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144 A Ovary Color: RHS Green 144 C.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Seeds and fruits.—About 20 elliptic, small (1 mm long) Beige            seeds per one elliptic Brown capsule. Minute seeds, not well            measured by R.H.S. chart.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to pathogens and pests common to Sutera have            been observed.        -   Temperature tolerance.—The new variety tolerates            temperatures between 5 to 40° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Sutera plant named‘DANCOP102’ as herein illustrated and described.